Lately it seems pretty bathrooms have become as obsolete as pink tile with matching bathtubs. Susan Lachance shows pretty is coming back in style in the bathroom she designed for snowbirds at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton.

“She wanted a glamorous bathroom,” Lachance says. “It’s not your typical South Florida bathroom. It is somewhat traditional and very light and airy.”

The clients told her they needed more closet space, better flow, more floor space and a prettier design. To achieve this, she reconfigured the master suite, making it more airy with elegant embellishments. The client had the crystal chandelier but Lachance added a circular inset with hand-painted cherubs and flowers. The floors are Thassos marble with black inserts, a timeless tile named after the Greek island where it has been quarried since ancient times.

Large windows feature burnout draperies, created when fibers are burned away with a weak acid or chemical salt. The technique destroys some of the fibers to create a relief or silhouette pattern. Lachance installed solar shades for privacy. A heavy velvet drape separates the main space from the toilet area.

A polished nickel soaking tub is the focal point of the room and a vanity provides the perfect spot for applying makeup. Glass fronts on the closets make the room appear even larger. Lachance added several sconces to provide accent lighting.

Designer: Perla Lichi

Photographer: John Stillman

Perla Lichi, a Coral Springs designer known for using gilded furniture and lush fabrics, proves opulent can be less showy.

She transformed a dark and closed-up bathroom in L’Hermitage into a getaway reminiscent of a hotel spa. The main feature is the popular stand-alone tub. It takes up less space than having to build a tub and has a handheld spray.

“The tub is comfortable because of the curved back,” she says. “With a stand-alone tub you don’t need a deck. The featured wall of mirrors reflects the tub and the double vanity. I included a magic TV mirror. If you are soaking in the tub, you can see the TV coming though the mirror and you can see the TV from the shower.”

Other elegant elements include a crystal chandelier, a curved silver-framed mirror, niches with mirror back in the shower to display different shampoo bottles as well as mother-of-pearl mosaic tile in the shower and on the walls. The white lacquer vanity has a frosted-glass insert and a black-granite top. The shower is 30 percent larger than the original and has a frameless glass surround.

“One chandelier can make all the difference,” Lichi says. “It’s like jewelry. I always put the money where you can see it. You got to be smart about the design.”

Designer: Ann Morris

Photos: Darryl Nobles

We couldn’t resist adding this bathroom as a tribute to Ann Morris, who lost her battle with breast cancer in April. Morris was a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, a color specialist and Certified Aging in Place Designer.

A well respected designer, Morris appeared on HGTV and her work was featured in such national publications as House Beautiful, The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens and Inspired House. She worked for Allied Kitchen & Bath for 13 years.

Bill Feinberg, president of Allied Kitchen & Bath, explains the project was a complete remodel of the 2,500-square-foot condo for clients who moved to Fort Lauderdale Beach from Paris.

“The condo was originally very traditional styling and the homeowners wanted to lighten it and make it more modern yet wanted to stay within the style of L’Hermitage,” he says.

Morris designed the bathroom within the existing wall space in a transitional style with wide Shaker door cabinets in an Opaque Oyster finish. The freestanding tub, Optik by Maax, allowed for more room for cabinetry and an open feel. The mosaic tile on the floor and walls is a 24-by-24 inch Iceberg Marble with matching mosaic behind the tub and floor of the platform deck. The countertop also is Iceberg Marble.

The client loved plants and nature, so Morris added a green glass shower door for a more natural feel, Feinberg says.

# # #

Fixture ideas

You don’t have to redecorate your entire bathroom to add a fresh look. Sometimes all it takes is a soaking tub, a sexy faucet or brass hardware. Here are some ways to give your bath a splash of style.

Art accents

THG Paris is collaborating with artist Arik Levy, who says he designs faucets to be the gem of the bathroom. His System Collection, customizable works of art, allows you to play with patterns, textures, materials and finishes to create your own contemporary design. Options from glass to marble, silver to gold can be stacked or used alone. The price starts at $2,500. Available at Miller’s Fine Decorative Hardware, 501 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, 561-837-9090, millershardware.com.

Custom classics

Components, a customization option from Kohler, features 12 different combinations of minimalist options in either polished chrome or matte black. The spouts for sink and bath include Row, a modern design with crisp angles; Ribbon, giving the appearance of thin ribbons; or Tube, a timeless cylindrical shape. Handle options include Rocker, a single control that can be placed anywhere on the deck; or the Oyl, an industrial look with lever. Spouts start at $350 and handle sets at $250. Available at us.kohler.com before rolling out soon to showrooms.

Gorgeous grabbers

Now that baby boomers are aging they want grab bars to add beauty as well as safety. They don’t want their baths to look like they belong in a hospital or nursing home. Newport Brass has designed attractive ADA Compliant grab bars that are compatible with the rest of their faucets and accessories. The grab bars are available in seven lengths – from 12 to 42 inches – and 27 decorative finishes. Price for the gold finish shown is $538. Available at Ferguson Enterprises, 2860 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, 954-567-3110, fergusonshowrooms.com.

Sexy soaking

Everyone seems to want a soaking tub these days. They give a spa-like ambience to the bathroom and provide a respite after a grueling day at work or workout at the gym. Badeloft offers a show-stopping eco-friendly choice in stone resin, a non-toxic and non-porous material that holds up to moisture and humidity as well as offering heat retention. The oval tub sells for $2,790 at CSI Home Décor, 5365 N. Hiatus Road, Sunrise, 954-900-3248, csihomedecor.

Spa sensation

Sometimes you want more than a soaking tub. Marc Saddler created the Fusion Rondo Spa for Aquatica, an all-out spa experience with air-injected hydrotherapy and a concealed chromotherapy system that creates a blade of light around the tub. Hidden nozzles animate the water. It includes Bluetooth with a powerful subwoofer. There are no faucets; the tub is filled and trained with the touch of a button. It sells for $21,990. Available at Dougs Tubs, 1387 Shotgun Road, Sunrise, 954-423-2250, dougstubs.com.

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